I appreciate how you make complex topics feel manageable!

Making $21.3k per month by selling websites is certainly an impressive income, and many people have found success in the web design and development niche by offering quality websites for businesses, personal brands, and e-commerce stores. Here's a breakdown of how you could potentially achieve this goal through a tutorial-style approach:

Step 1: Niche Selection
The first step to success in selling websites is choosing a profitable niche. Targeting specific industries or businesses allows you to focus on their unique needs, making it easier to create tailored websites that provide real value. Here are some niche ideas to consider:

Local businesses (restaurants, salons, gyms)

E-commerce (small businesses looking to start or improve their online store)

Personal brands (bloggers, influencers, coaches)

Non-profits or charities

Real estate (agents, brokers, property listings)

Health & wellness (doctors, therapists, fitness trainers)

By focusing on a niche, you can develop expertise that will make you stand out from general website designers.

Step 2: Build Your Portfolio
Before you can start selling websites, you need a strong portfolio to showcase your skills. You can start by creating sample websites or offering discounted services to your first few clients in exchange for testimonials and examples of your work. A good portfolio will include:

Examples of websites that highlight your skills (design, functionality, responsiveness, etc.)

A variety of website types to show your versatility

A focus on clean, modern, and professional designs

You can also show off your skills on freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr if you're starting from scratch.

Step 3: Set Up Your Pricing Structure
To make $21.3k per month, you need to have a pricing structure that ensures you can reach that income. Here's a potential way to break it down:

Standard Website Design: $2,000–$5,000 (depending on complexity)

E-commerce Website: $5,000–$10,000 (depending on features like payment integration, inventory management, etc.)

Website Maintenance/Updates: Monthly retainer $500–$1,000

Upsells: Add-ons like SEO optimization, copywriting, and ongoing support can increase your revenue.

If you focus on high-ticket projects, you can achieve the $21k/month goal by completing around 4–10 projects per month.

Step 4: Find Clients
To make money, you need to acquire clients who are willing to pay for your web design services. Here are a few methods to find clients:

Freelance Marketplaces: Websites like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer can connect you with potential clients, especially when you're starting.

Cold Outreach: Reach out directly to local businesses or online stores that could benefit from a professional website.

Referrals: Provide exceptional service to your clients and ask for referrals or testimonials that can lead to new business.

Social Media: Use LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter to post about your web design work, tutorials, or case studies to attract potential customers.

Networking Events: Attend local business events, virtual conferences, or workshops to meet potential clients.

Step 5: Upselling & Additional Services
After completing a website, you can offer additional services that will increase your monthly revenue. These services could include:

SEO Optimization: Help businesses rank higher in Google search results.

Content Creation: Write copy for websites or blog posts.

Social Media Integration: Set up social media links, Instagram feeds, or Facebook integration for websites.

Website Maintenance: Offer ongoing support and updates to websites you've built, turning clients into long-term sources of income.

Step 6: Automating and Scaling
To scale your business and reach $21.3k per month consistently, you need to think about streamlining and automating processes. Some ideas include:

Hiring Subcontractors: Bring in other designers or developers to help with larger projects so you can take on more clients without increasing your workload.

Creating Templates: Build a library of website templates you can quickly customize for clients, reducing development time.

Outsourcing: Hire freelancers to handle some of the backend work, content creation, or SEO so you can focus on higher-level tasks like client acquisition and project management.

Step 7: Offering Payment Plans and Retainers
To create a consistent income stream, consider offering payment plans or retainer agreements to clients. For example, you could offer clients the option to pay for a website in installments, or set up monthly retainers for ongoing maintenance, updates, or additional services.

Step 8: Marketing Your Services
Invest in marketing yourself and your services to reach a larger audience. Here's how:

Paid Ads: Use platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or Instagram to target specific audiences.

Content Marketing: Create blog posts, videos, and tutorials to educate people about the importance of a good website and show off your expertise.

Email Marketing: Build an email list of interested prospects and nurture them through regular, valuable content until they're ready to buy.

Step 9: Managing Client Expectations
Good communication and managing client expectations are key to retaining customers and ensuring repeat business. Always set clear project timelines, deliverables, and scope. Use project management tools like Asana or Trello to stay organized and keep clients updated.

Step 10: Reinvest in Your Business
As you scale your business, reinvest in tools, software, and learning opportunities. This could include:

Upgrading your website design software (such as Adobe XD, Figma, or Sketch)

Investing in automation tools for managing leads, clients, and projects

Learning new design trends and technologies to stay ahead of the competition

Conclusion
Making $21.3k per month by selling websites is possible with the right strategy. The key is to find a profitable niche, price your services accordingly, find clients through multiple channels, offer upsells and additional services, and scale your efforts by automating and outsourcing.